I always thought babies were born as blank slates and the parents molded and taught them gender roles, etc.
I had two boys. We didn't allow guns in the house. We didn't talk about them, just basically ignored their existence. The first time the oldest got some Lego blocks, he built a gun! We had plenty of toys and dolls etc, and he always went for the cars and traditionally "male" toys. We didn't encourage it, he wasn't in childcare, he was just "like that."
My best friend had two girls, the same ages. The wanted to do the girly things when they came over.
We moved away and had two girls. Meanwhile my friend had some boys. She later called and apologized for all the things she had said about my parenting. I was amazed at how different and easier girls were.
I have always been a women's libbist, and have a degree in chemistry. But I had to admit I was wrong about the blank slate idea.
My second son did have a period when his sister was born when he was inseparable from his baby doll, that he dragged around by the leg.He refused to put clothes on it, so I had to crochet a little dress directly onto the doll because I didn't like her being naked all the time.
And my older daughter insisted on climbing trees and couldn't STAND dolls. She is like me, not a girly girl at all. But the older one now has a degree in linguistics and is choosing to stay at home and raise children while her husband works. They hope to get a big horsefarm someday and work together doing tourist rides in Alaska.
Despite my women's libbist tendencies, I have LOVED being a mom and my kids are wonderful, so I must have done something right. My brother-in-law stayed home with the kids while my sister worked, and that worked for them.
The bottom line is that boys and girls ARE overall wired differently, but there is some overlap. There will always be traditionally female and male roles, but also with some overlap. The one thing we can do to really screw up society is to have quotas. The best thing to do is to encourage each person to follow their heart.
1. Who did you see at the meeting yesterday?
2. Robert and Tricia have known each other for over 25 years.
3. Stop talking! I am learning my lessons.
4. I have already finished my homework.
5. I am sure you will enjoy this book, it’s really interesting.
6. How long had she been working there when you met her?
7. Was Mr. Dawson in Detroit yesterday?
8. I met Jim a couple of days ago.
9. He is the most stupid man I have ever met.
10. How long ago did they leave?
11. I am going to the theater tonight; I bought the ticket yesterday.
12. They spent their summer holidays in Italy when they were children.
13. How long had they been runnung before it started to rain?
14. I was sleeping when he rang me last night.
15. I have never changed a tire before.
16. She will have finished her homework by 5 o’clock. или She had finished her homework by 5 o’clock.
17. While I was going to work I met an old friend of mine.
18. Jill has had a car for a week.
19. How long have they been learning English?
20. They will probably come to our party.
21. When I got home, they had already had dinner.
22. I am sweating because I am cleaning the whole house.
23. -Is the house clean?
-Yes, I have cleaned it.
24. He was playing with matches when he burnt himself.
25. The plane has just landed.
26. Bob doesn't like dancing.
27. Bob has never liked dancing.
28. John F. Kennedy died in 1963.
29. That was the worst film I have ever seen.
30. My family has owned the castle for over two centuries.
31. I have been waiting for you for three hours.
32. Henry talked/had talked to Sam two hours before. (Предложение неполное или с ошибкой?)
33. Yesterday I met Dan; I hadn't seen him for ages.
34. We will go on a school trip next Tuesday.
35. I promise I won't tell lies anymore.
